In many different cultures, breasts are symbols of motherhood, femininity, nurturing, and pleasure. And for as many different shapes, sizes and colours of breasts that exist, the nature of an individual’s relationship to their breasts can be just as varied, and often, complex.

When it comes to breast health, the key is awareness. Breasts come in all shapes and forms, and what’s normal for one individual might be a warning sign for another. Understanding what’s normal for you, what to look out for, and what steps to take if you have concerns about your breast health will deepen your relationship with your body and empower you to be more proactive with your health.

Insulin resistance is estimated to affect about 1 in 3 Canadians and is thought to be highly under-diagnosed.  Unfortunately, many people who experience insulin resistance will live with it for years if they don’t make some important changes to their diet and lifestyle.

And the reality is that many people are already insulin resistant and simply don’t know it. When we get stuck in insulin resistance, not only are we faced with stubborn weight gain, but the body actually becomes more susceptible to disease and dysfunction.

Most often, when a patient comes to their provider complaining or one of several of the symptoms of hormone imbalance, toxicity is not considered as a potential cause. The endocrine system is complex, and slight changes in hormone levels or function can throw off this delicate balance. What this means is that toxicity in the body is overriding important signals from our hormones and scrambling those messages.

Self care starts with self love, and many of us struggle in both of these areas. I’m sharing four practical strategies for mastering self love along with a self care roadmap to give you the tools you need to transform your life.

Self care is more than spa days - the way you nurture yourself should be foundational to how you move through life. This post explores opinions and trends around self care and offers simple strategies today to start implementing today.

The benefits of eating seasonal, local produce extend beyond affordability and reduced environmental impact. Did you know that local produce is actually more nutrient dense than food that’s not in season, and it tastes better? Learn about the best skin-supporting seasonal produce to include in your diet this summer.

Our skin care needs change in the summer, and looking to Ayurveda for balancing hormones and reducing inflammation will help us support and protect our skin through the hottest months of the year. In this post, I discuss the connection between hormones and skin health and offer Ayurvedic practices and remedies to pacify pitta and keep your skin healthy and vibrant.

Ayurveda is an ancient healing practice with valuable lessons and tools that we can implement in our lives to achieve better balance. Learn about the best foods and lifestyle practices to promote longevity and cultivate more vibrant health and wellness this summer!

Herbs are a potent tool in longevity medicine. They’ve been used for thousands of years to elevate the culinary experience and provide valuable medicinal qualities to a diet. Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine (two ancient holistic healing systems that are still widely practiced today) both have health-promoting herbs at the heart of their traditions. These systems have recognised the potential of certain botanicals to enhance longevity and balance the body and mind.

Chronic stress changes the brain, but the good news is that the damage is usually reversible. In this post, I share 5 major changes that occur in the brain with chronic stress and what you can do to restore healthy, balanced function.

Our hormones play an essential role in our day-to-day functions, sending messages to a number of different biological systems to regulate various processes. Sleep, mood, energy levels, libido, body temperature, weight and metabolism are all controlled by the communication of our hormones. They also have a significant impact on our mental health, and imbalances or major fluctuations in hormone levels can often be misdiagnosed as anxiety or mood disorders.

Learn more about the impact of hormonal imbalances on mental health and how to support yourself, naturally and holistically.

Our hormones take on many important roles in the body, acting as messengers for different systems and processes. As we age, hormone levels begin to change and we can see the effects of this shift on the body. Estrogen is a primary female hormone closely tied to youth and the aging process, and a decreasing production of estrogen through perimenopause and menopause has an impact on the appearance and behavior of skin. The effects of lower estrogen levels are seen not only on the skin of the face and body, but also impact the tissues of the vulva and vaginal lining, which become thinner, dryer, and more vulnerable to tears, injury, and pain.

While the experience of menopause will look and feel a little bit different for each one of us, embracing these changes and moving forward with an empowered mindset will help us to find more freedom and confidence to continue aging gracefully, and perhaps with a new sense of purpose. Read more to discover 6 good reasons to embrace menopause and enjoy this stage in your life.

The biological necessity of attachment is regulated by several key hormones that create a sense of connection and help us to develop meaningful bonds with others. Dopamine and oxytocin are two of the primary “happiness hormones” responsible for creating these attachments and behave a little bit differently throughout the various stages of relationship and bonding. Learn how to hack your hormones and boost oxytocin with 5 simple practices.

The liver supports over 500 different functions in the body, including a regulation of the balance of sex hormones, thyroid hormones, cortisone and other adrenal hormones. In this post, we explore the relationship between the liver and your hormones, as well as the many opportunities to detox your home, your habits, and your life.

What’s the link between hormones and lymphatics? Learn about the interplay of these systems in the body and how your physical and mental health might be affected by dysfunction in this relationship.

How can Ayurveda help explain and treat menstrual issues?

If you’ve ever struggled with accepting a compliment or receiving praise, know that you are certainly not alone! I’ve been challenged by this recently and share my tips (along with a meditation practice) to help you open up and receive the love, praise, and acknowledgement you deserve.

Join this 6-week journey of female empowerment and community, led by Dr. Sonya Jensen, author of Woman Unleashed! The book club & online community will run Sundays from 8am - 10am, starting January 9, 2022!